Miss KC’s Parade of Hearts? You’re in luck: Popular citywide art returning in 2023, 2024

Kansas City’s “Parade of Hearts” is set to return in 2023 — and 2024 — after the wildly popular, city-spanning art installation, regional pride campaign and fundraiser placed more than 150 unique artist-created hearts throughout the metro.

“Kansas City Jazz” by Julie Garwood Heide, Parade of Hearts 2022

The publicly displayed art pieces quickly became destination points across the city with Kansas Citians and visitors embarking on quests to visit all 156 hearts — and culminating in an online auction and sold-out live event where the final 12 pieces were auctioned in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 people.

A two-year plan announced Wednesday calls for a limited edition of hearts — each a take on the iconic “KC Heart” — to be displayed in 2023 with a return to more than 100 hearts on display in 2024. 

“In 2022, Kansas City really took the Parade of Hearts to heart,” said Jenn Nussbeck, executive director for Parade of Hearts. “Our artists did such incredible work representing diverse cross- section of greater Kansas City — in geography, culture, age, gender and ethnicity — and we were honored to bring their designs to life. As a direct result of the overwhelming popularity and public support, we are thrilled to announce that this project will continue for at least two more years — a continued reminder of our region’s creativity and generosity.”

Artists may begin submitting heart designs immediately for consideration in the 2023 Parade of Hearts. The project is supported by corporate and individual sponsors, merchandise sales and public auction of the hearts.

Click here to learn more about submitting art for a Parade of Hearts piece. The deadline to apply is Nov. 30.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Bosnak

Andrea Bosnak, founder of Spur & Serif, was among the artists’ whose work was featured in the 2022 Parade of Hearts.

Her heart — which read “together we’re better” on the front and “mejores juntos” on the back — was showcased on the Country Club Plaza near the Capital Grille during the campaign.

“I really value minorities and immigrants and people who have had a very different background from a lot of us here,” Bosnak told Startland News previously. “I think it is better when we have all of that in a community, I think it’s really important to value all of the diversity that we have and I wanted to illustrate that. I wanted that on display. I really believe in that message.”

Artists like Bosnak received the 5-foot by 5-foot hearts in November 2021 and then turned in their finished works in January 2022. The hearts were on display from March to June in spaces across Kansas City and then were auctioned off to raise money for those most affected by the events of 2020 and 2021.

The Parade of Hearts raised $2.56 million for charity over the course of the 2022 campaign.

“It was so fun to do that heart,” Bosnak said. “It wouldn’t fit in my studio at home. So it lived in our living room while I worked on it.”

Click here to check out the Parade of Hearts guidelines for artists.

Once auctioned, Bosnak’s heart found its permanent home at a law office in the Kansas City area.

Revenue from Parade of Hearts in 2023 and 2024 benefits local artists via stipend and marketing support, as well as The University of Kansas Health System and Children’s Miracle Network.

Public charities throughout the Kansas City region will be encouraged to apply for consideration as the third beneficiary for the 2023 and 2024 Parade of Hearts at TheParadeofHearts.com. Applications are expected to go live in November. A selection committee will choose the third charity in early 2023.

Watch a 2022 recap video from the Parade of Hearts below.

 

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This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

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